New item I got to try just in time for my training!!

Here is the packaging.

I got a brand new item to try from Influenster.com (Ireceived this product complimentary from Influenster.), just in time for my training for couch to 5K. They are from Dr Scholl's and the are the Active Series. 

I received the ones for female and in my shoe size range.  They were very easy to size up for my shoes and replace my old insoles. 

I  received them in the mail from influenster and I reviewed the packaging. I was very excited because they claim to help with some of the issues I have been experiencing as a new runner. Specifically shin splints.  

Here is the Back.

I tried them out in my old pair of Reebok that I have been using during the beginning of my journey. They were very easy to size and place in the shoe.

So far they have worked. I am tempted to try them out in my new shoes. I really think that would be the true test. I have used them for walking, jogging, and just shopping. They have improved my shoes so far. I am feeling the pain less and less. I am not sure if it is just the inserts or the combination of the inserts and the KT tape.

Anyway, I would recommend these inserts, especially to those new to running and especially if you need that extra support in older shoes or shoes that are lacking in these specific areas.

Go to Dr Scholl's website for more info! http://www.drscholls.com/Products/ActiveSeriesInsoles 

Weekend Off

Took a weekend off of training.

I decided to take a break from my training this weekend. I did a lot of walking yesterday at the store. I also went to the movies. I will be back on it on Monday. 

Last week was this first full week of couch to 5K. I am very happy to say, my ankle survived it. It felt better then it has in a long time. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have over a year from breaking my ankle. I am feeling better than ever.

I cannot believe I am doing this. I never thought that I would be able to do this. That was even before I broke my ankle. Sure it's been a hard recovery, but I want everyone to know, it will get better!!!

Never say never, make the impossible possible.

Are you serious? Again?

"My ankle hates me. period."

That is what I told my Dr's Med assistant recently. I was planning on a Friday off. Guess what? I got a little mark near my scar/incision. it looked like I bumped it. That was on Friday, October 4, 2013. I put a bandaid on it. I did not think anything of it...well by Sunday it was no longer a mark but a sore, and very painful one in fact. It was warm and seeping. All signs of infection. So I emailed my OS. I am sure I could have went to my PCP on Monday, but my OS is familiar with this issue so I awaited his response. He got me in right away. Sure enough, it's confirmed, the infection is back.

I got my antibiotics, and I need to do the normal wound care...If it gets worse contact my OS's resident or MA. I know the drill all too well. It's a lot smaller then before. If it's still infected in 2 weeks then it will be another debridement, hopefully just in the office. So far so good, it's healing up so far. 

(update-my OS believes it actually was not an infection, but an inflammatory issue..it cleared up before he could biopsy it to find out exactly what I could have been...and luckily it has not flared up again)

Some Good News.

Well my ankle may hate me, but I am going to make it hate me more. I got the OK from my OS to start Couch to 5K. I am on my 3rd week. So far so good. I will start documenting this more, especially as my ankle becomes less of an issue. I am using this ankle as inspiration to do something I never thought I could do pre-broken ankle. I never thought I could jog a minute, let alone a 5K. So far it is not even my ankle that it giving me the problems. I am going to keep on going. I am determined this time to accomplish my goal and loose this weight. I know that this weight may have been a huge contributor to my issues with my ankle. I want to prevent it, and become more active. 

End of Summer...End of the holiday...

Back at it

I got the Ok from my OS to resume exercising at the gym back in May. I started to work on it slowly. At first it was great. I was back on the elliptical,  and weights. Then things started to happen. My best friend's mom got sick, then the gym time became close to none. It was not until then that my ankle started to act up again. No infection, just pain.

At least my ankle let me enjoy the majority of the summer...

The end of August I contacted my OS. He got me in right away. Due to the issues, the MRI was ordered. I got my MRI, and the girls in registration was right...the MRI...was very loud and annoying. Glad it is over with...I got my results from my OS a couple of weeks later.

What is even crazier, since the MRI...the pain in the joint so far has gotten better. If I do get pain I do have the option of steroid injections, then if that does not help surgery on my ligaments may be needed. Right now the biggest and most important advise I received from my OS is to keep moving & exercising, since I have it has gotten better.  I have taken that advise to heart and have been focusing on me & getting healthy.

After HWR

Wonderful Summer

Back to photographing an event

Got some great photos

Bought me a bike

Got to wear my Ariat boots

Helped with the gardening

Just relaxed!!

Got back to work at the gym!! Back on the The Precor Elliptical

Flip flops finally!!! I thought I would never wear you again!!

Hardware removal...be gone you nasty infection, be gone!!

April 8, 2013-Hardware Removal...seriously this time it will happen!

This time is was going to happen, no matter what. This infection seemed to just want to taunt me and my DR. It appeared when it wants to. I swear it had ears...As soon as it heard I was going to take a Friday off..it appeared. As soon as someone mentioned my Dr was going to be off, it appeared. As soon as my Dr was going to take care of it, it disappeared. This time not matter what, he was going to take care of it. Just in case it attached itself to the hardware, it had to go.

I got to UTMC this time bright and early. I had to be there at 5ish in the morning. As I was scheduled to be the first surgery for my DR at 7:30 AM. I got there, all prepped and all. My fav nurses were there, and they took great care of me, as usual. My Dr came in and explained everything. I tried to convince the Anesthesiologist that I did not need general, I still to this day to not think it was necessary...general anesthetic made me sick this time around too :-(.

My Hardware

Next thing I know it was over. I woke up in recovery with my proof of HWR, I got to keep my hardware. My Dr explained my surgery to my mom, and did not get to talk to me afterwards...Im sure I would not have remembered anyhow waking up from GA. I went home and recovered..I did end up emailing my dr that day who emailed me within minutes explaining my surgery, did I say my dr is awesome? because he is...lol I was back to work within 2 days after my hardware removal.

My pretty Post Op Splint

It all went very well. It was a lot easier of recovery than my initial surgery. I was expecting to be in pain, I was not. No pain pills were even needed. I did not even take any over the counter pain pills. I was able to be prepared. Prior to the surgery, and even before my non-HWR, I was able to prepare my house for my NWB period. I bought easy to prepare foods which were high in
protein and calcium. I had things made easier so I could easily get around on my knee scooter. I also practiced my crutches so I could use them in the house and leave me knee scooter out in my truck for work, and shopping.

I only had that post OP splint for a week. My Dr wanted to check my incision in a week to make sure the healing was going as planned. He  took off the splint and told me to keep the incision clean and wrapped. So I got to leave with ace bandaged. I did have promise to keep NWB, so my incision would heal. Also my HWR removal was still considered early, so I still had to be very carful. The next week, the stitches and staples got to go. I had stitches along the original incision. he has staples on another incision on the lateral side where I was having issues with pain. He cleaned both sides out during the surgery.  I was ok'ed to start weight bearing gradually.

Finally, an update, the continuation of the never ending Broken Ankle Journey!!

I know it has been like forever since I have posted. I have been getting back to my life, and kind of forgot about my journal. I know I needed to update it, because things have changed, for the better for the most part. 

Back to my journey----

Let's go Back to December ...sorry not the Taylor Swift song...

I left the story back in December after my first I & D, and surgery for my infection. That was on December 11, 2012. I reviewed my labs from that procedure, and it did reveal that I did have a little bit of a staph infection. It is the most common form of staph after an ankle surgery, "Staphylococcus aureus" (info from a medical journal, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690750/). 

I did all my follow up and the infection cleared up. My incision healed up quite nicely. I continued PT, and it went very well. I loved my therapists, and they challenged me every visit. My walking improved every visit. I am glad that I asked my DR for more therapy to work on my balance.

Wearing boots were one of my many major accomplishments of recovery. Walking long distances, especially while shopping was great. Making Christmas goodies, and just enjoying the holidays.

No matter what, through all of this I kept positive. I truly feel that being positive helped me the most during this journey. The encouragement of my friends, family, my BA family on facebook, and especially Dr's made this journey so much easier!!

The Return of the infection.....seriously??

It was not until the end of February that my infection, returned again. This time it returned with vengeance. I was very sore this time around. This was due to not only the return of the infection, but to some ligament issues. 

March 1, 2013-

I followed up with my DR, he scheduled a CT scan to check on the healing of my fracture. At this point he was debating Hardware removal. I had my CT that day. This was another Friday I had taken off of work, that I spent the majority of the day in the ortho department. To this day, I am afraid to take a Friday off. 

March 8, 2013-

Another Friday...I had my follow up for my CT scan. I discussed my results with my OS, and all the options and risks. We decided even though my fracture was about about 40% to go ahead and schedule Hardware removal for March 15, 2013. 

March 15, 2013-

Hardware removal, so it was scheduled to be...

I arrived bright and early for my procedure. My mom accompanied me this time. I got all prepped. The nurses all remembered me. I knew the drill. The resident came in and marked my ankle with his big ol'initials. explained the risks, etc. Also told me since my Dr was running behind he would not come in to see me before going back. Yet not to long after he left, my Dr was there. He looked at was was my infected sore....it was healed. totally healed up. It surprised my Dr. That is when he asked me if I wanted to proceed with the Hardware Removal...I told him it was up to him, because i trust his decision. He consulted with another Dr I know, and we decided at that time to not do the HWR.

He did aspirate the ankle joint, to check for infection. Basically took a big needle and took fluid out of the joint so it could be tested. Also if it looked cloudy, or infected he was then going to take out the hardware. It looked fine. Also due to the soreness in my ankle he did a procedure called "manipulation" he moved my ankle joint different ways to see what was causing the pain, insufficiencies in the ligaments, etc. He did this under fluoroscopy, which is basically live xray. It was very interesting because I was awake and could see it all.

I ended up discussing the results later with my Dr. He did advise me that the results of the labs came back clean and he discovered a possible issue with my deltoid ligament. This could be the reason behind the pain and instability I was having. We will take it day by day. Once Hardware is removed, then an MRI can be done to check on the ligament issues.

Of course...guess what? The infection came back...
I got in to see my OS, and in April...the hardware...this time...had to GO.

OMG will this happen to me?? Does everyone get an infection?

I do want to let everyone know that not everyone gets an infection. 

I am sharing my experience not to frighten anyone.

I am sharing it- 

to educate

to share with those going through the same situation

to get this experience off my chest

to show that some people can go through a difficult time, and as long as they are proactive, they will get better.

Everyone's experience is different. 

Everyone's recovery is unique to them. 

Not everyone goes into this in the same situation. 

Some people are at a higher risk because of many different reasons...

mine could have been my weight or even the fact that I was on pretnizone (steroid for dermatitis for a spider bite) prior to me breaking my ankle. 

For the most part, my recovery has been fairly good, minus the infection. I still to this day feel I have had the best possible care, by one of the best dr's.

The main thing, if you have any doubts in your care, get a second opinion. If you get an infection, be proactive. Do not wait. Seek medical attention. They go through many years of training for a reason. Do not try to diagnose yourself. 

Some signs of infection-

Redness

Heat at the area of infection

Fever

drainage (could smell, may not)

Soreness

Opening of some kind, sore, etc.

Call your DR, go into the ER. 

Get checked out by a medical professional.